The Star-News

Kidnapper looking at more than a decade behind bars

Fri, May 14 2010 10:44 AM Posted By: Neal Putnam

Daniel Cital Jasso became the second man to receive a 13-year prison term on April 30 for kidnapping a Chula Vista couple in a case related to a missing batch of marijuana with an estimated value of $70,000.

Jasso, 33, of El Cajon, pleaded guilty to kidnapping Silvia Arellano and Joshua Castrillon in 2009 after following the couple from their Chula Vista home to Pacific Beach.

Three men with guns abducted the couple and put them in the back seat of their own BMW.

Arellano, 30, was shocked with a taser and had $100 taken from her. One of the kidnappers committed traffic violations and a San Diego Police officer tried to pull them over. The driver drove off at high speed but eventually pulled over near Hotel Circle. The kidnappers ran but police arrested three men and two others later.

Jasso also pleaded guilty to felony assault involving his girlfriend who was punched in the face on Aug. 24, 2008.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Jeff Fraser imposed a three-year prison term for that offense, but ordered it run concurrently with the 13-year term.

Jasso received credit for 493 days already served in jail and was fined $2,090, court records say.

On Feb. 26, Arturo Galarza, 40, was sentenced by Fraser to 13 years for his role in kidnapping Arellano and Castrillon. Raymundo Quezada, 25; Gustavo Martinez Jr., 22; and Rafael Ortiz, 23, are set to stand trial later this month.

Castrillon, 36, testified last year that he had been holding 600 pounds of marijuana for the men; however, the marijuana was stolen from him.